Hm, upgrades. (Little help please.)

2008-09-23 02:01:21

#1

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7041|Noizyland

Hello Bf2s.com Tech Team and generally computer-competent residents of the Tech section, it's been a while since I've strolled this way.

So my trustworthy beast is aging, it hit it's second birthday last July. I'm opposed to getting rid of it and buying a new machine because it's been a faithful friend.
SO, I need to upgrade. I've never done this before, Hell I've never had a computer worthy of upgrading before this one. I've gathered what I could from the useful yet slightly dated threads here and I appreciate the advice, however I'm looking for opinions now.

I'm looking to upgrade three things: PSU, CPU and GPU.

What I have:
PSU: Not entirely sure, its a 300W one though.
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz
GPU: Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce 7600GS

What I'm looking at purchasing:
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W Power Supply
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
GPU: Dunno yet, I'm open to suggestions. I want quality over... er, cheapiness.

So; suggestions, praise, kicks in the face for idiocy, I'm open to it. If you want more info I'll see what I can do about geting it.

Cheers,

- Ty.

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2008-09-23 02:19:00

#2

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6834|NYC / Hamburg

That PSU is overpowered

if you want a quad core:

q9300
P35 or P45 mobo - personally I <3 the P5Q deluxe for quads
2x2GB DDR2-1066
HD3850, HD3870 or HD 3870X2 depending on budget
Samsung spinpoint F1 HD
Not sure what PSU brand is cheap down there, but most Corsair, Enermax, Thermaltake, OCZ, PC Power & cooling or Seasonic will do. Link to webshop?

Last edited by max (2008-09-23 02:19:45)

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-09-23 02:20:44

#3

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6720|The Twilight Zone

Whats you budget? New Zealand is expensive rite?

https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

2008-09-23 02:34:31

#4

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7041|Noizyland

What I'm doing is buying from a US online shop and paying to have it shipped. The shipping is pretty fucking expensive but it still beats buying from a New Zealand shop. I'll probably buy from CompUSA or Newegg.

Consider this: looking at top-of-the-line equipment, if I bought a GTX 280, (not bloody likely but this is just hypothetical,) it would cost me $1,016.00 NZD, roughly $700 USD. Buying from Newegg it would cost me $450 USD, roughly $650 NZD, (maybe $720 NZD after shipping.)

As to a PSU being overpowered, what are the failings of having an overpowered PSU?

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2008-09-23 02:56:41

#5

Cheez: Herman is a warmaphrodite; +1,027|6706|King Of The Islands

I take it you have some relos in the US that will ship them to you?

Quads are good for the future, and if you've hung onto the last one for 2 years I'd say its a safe bet to choose one now. +1 the 9300.

I'd recommend a 9600GT if you were on a budget but in America they're the same price as a 3870

My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.

2008-09-23 03:02:16

#6

molotov<bf2>: Member; +15|6711|uk

Ty wrote:
As to a PSU being overpowered, what are the failings of having an overpowered PSU?

just initial cost. the consumed power at your supply meter is relative to the component demand not the rated power of the PSU. buy the best you can for your budget & try to allow for future upgrades if you can afford it. imo a sensible margin would be an extra 30-50% on top of your initial requirements, but i would always prefer to buy a top quality brand & sacrifice the size of this margin.

2008-09-23 03:20:41

#7

Jenspm: penis; +1,716|6999|St. Andrews / Oslo

This is what I have:

Intel Q9300 - $260
Gigabyte P35 DS4 - £95 (notice pounds, wasn't available on Newegg)
4x1 GB OCZ SLi 1066mhz ram - $145

Works like a charm. You might want to go with a P45 (maybe a P5Q as max said) for crossfire support if you want to add another card later.

Next week, I'll be getting:
- ATi HD4850
- Antec P182

I'll reccomend you do the same

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/26774/flickricon.png

2008-09-23 03:21:11

#8

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6834|NYC / Hamburg

molotov<bf2> wrote:
Ty wrote:
As to a PSU being overpowered, what are the failings of having an overpowered PSU?
just initial cost. the consumed power at your supply meter is relative to the component demand not the rated power of the PSU. buy the best you can for your budget & try to allow for future upgrades if you can afford it. imo a sensible margin would be an extra 30-50% on top of your initial requirements, but i would always prefer to buy a top quality brand & sacrifice the size of this margin.

PSUs often have bad efficiencies at a low load. Why waste money (higher initial cost and higher electricity bill)?

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-09-23 03:27:25

#9

Cheez: Herman is a warmaphrodite; +1,027|6706|King Of The Islands

Jenspm wrote:
This is what I have:

Intel Q9300 - $260
Gigabyte P35 DS4 - £95 (notice pounds, wasn't available on Newegg)
4x1 GB OCZ SLi 1066mhz ram - $145

Works like a charm. You might want to go with a P45 (maybe a P5Q as max said) for crossfire support if you want to add another card later.

Next week, I'll be getting:
- ATi HD4850
- Antec P182

I'll reccomend you do the same

Here y'are, Sweety.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813128344

There's also the DS3L which is only one PCI-E 16x
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813128345

My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.

2008-09-23 03:28:46

#10

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7041|Noizyland

Okay, I'll finalise what I'm getting and decide on a PSU then.

Aw gawd I don't want to have to buy a new motherboard. I can't remember what kind mine is, I'll look into it though, (it's a Gigabyte... something...)

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2008-09-23 03:34:42

#11

Cheez: Herman is a warmaphrodite; +1,027|6706|King Of The Islands

CPU-Z.

Manufacturer's website will tell you supported CPUs.

Last edited by Cheez (2008-09-23 03:36:07)

My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.

2008-09-23 03:36:36

#12

molotov<bf2>: Member; +15|6711|uk

max wrote:
PSUs often have bad efficiencies at a low load. Why waste money (higher initial cost and higher electricity bill)?

domestic metering is kWh not kVA so you don't get penalised for poor power factor & therefore don't 'waste money'. kVA metering in commercial organisations is where you have to worry about the consequences of high reactive loads on your supply.

most PSU manufacturers boast power factor correction, but in terms of a domestic customer paying a kWh tariff this is of no consequence, the only person it effects is the supply company.

Last edited by molotov<bf2> (2008-09-23 03:38:33)

2008-09-23 03:45:32

#13

san4: The Mas; +311|6955|NYC, a place to live

Ty wrote:
Okay, I'll finalise what I'm getting and decide on a PSU then.

Aw gawd I don't want to have to buy a new motherboard. I can't remember what kind mine is, I'll look into it though, (it's a Gigabyte... something...)

You can't avoid getting a new mobo if you're upgrading. It's all a conspiracy by the motherboard manufacturers.

2008-09-23 03:48:16

#14

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6834|NYC / Hamburg

I'm talking about kWh here. An overpowered PSU (at a low load) will draw more W than a correctly sized one at a medium/high load with the same hardware

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-09-23 03:57:58

#15

molotov<bf2>: Member; +15|6711|uk

i disagree more VA yes, but the Watts are the same. if your components demand 200W, you draw 200W.

2008-09-23 04:04:22

#16

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6834|NYC / Hamburg

You loose some energy inside the PSU itself. Pretty easy to see really, the PSU gets warm. If components demand 200W, the draw at the socket will be higher; let's say 240W.

Last edited by max (2008-09-23 04:04:50)

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-09-23 04:08:25

#17

Jenspm: penis; +1,716|6999|St. Andrews / Oslo

molotov<bf2> wrote:
i disagree more VA yes, but the Watts are the same. if your components demand 200W, you draw 200W.

The best PSUs have an efficiency of just over 80%, iirc.

2008-09-23 04:08:28

#18

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7041|Noizyland

san4 wrote:
Ty wrote:
Okay, I'll finalise what I'm getting and decide on a PSU then.

Aw gawd I don't want to have to buy a new motherboard. I can't remember what kind mine is, I'll look into it though, (it's a Gigabyte... something...)
You can't avoid getting a new mobo if you're upgrading. It's all a conspiracy by the motherboard manufacturers.

Please tell me you're not serious. *groan*

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2008-09-23 04:12:39

#19

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6834|NYC / Hamburg

Ty wrote:
san4 wrote:
Ty wrote:
Okay, I'll finalise what I'm getting and decide on a PSU then.

Aw gawd I don't want to have to buy a new motherboard. I can't remember what kind mine is, I'll look into it though, (it's a Gigabyte... something...)
You can't avoid getting a new mobo if you're upgrading. It's all a conspiracy by the motherboard manufacturers.
Please tell me you're not serious. *groan*

seriously. There are no mobos produced in the P4 era than can take a 45nm quad. Some can take 65nm duals, but that's it

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-09-23 04:17:53

#20

molotov<bf2>: Member; +15|6711|uk

mike meyers explains it better than me:

"one common argument people use these days is that people who buy power supplies that provide far more wattage than a system needs waste power. this is untrue. a power supply provides only the amount of power your system needs. if you put a 1000W power supply into a system that needs only 250W, that big power supply will put out only 250W into the system. so buying an efficient higher wattage power supply gives you two benefits: first running a power supply at less than 100% load lets it live longer. second you'll have plenty of extra power when adding new components."

2008-09-23 04:22:49

#21

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7077|Nårvei

max wrote:
You loose some energy inside the PSU itself. Pretty easy to see really, the PSU gets warm. If components demand 200W, the draw at the socket will be higher; let's say 240W.

The efficiency rate is the same with all PSUs, so the same 240W would be drawn from a 620W and equally a 300W so that has nothing to do with it.

The big difference is if your socket can handle the size of the PSU, example if you have 220V and a 16A socket you can totally draw 2 - 2,5KW from that fuse ... if you use the full potential of a 750W is does not get any much warmer than using all the power from a 300W.

Corsair 750W is fine, i have one of those ... 620W is cooler cause it's modular

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2008-09-23 04:26:27

#22

Ty: Mass Media Casualty; +2,398|7041|Noizyland

I'll check out what motherboard I have anyway max, I may be in for a pleasant surprise. I got my computer quite a while after Dual Core had taken hold and got the very best motherboard I could at the time. I may be lucky yet, who knows.

[Blinking eyes thing]
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/tzyon

2008-09-23 04:29:57

#23

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7077|Nårvei

Ty wrote:
I'll check out what motherboard I have anyway max, I may be in for a pleasant surprise. I got my computer quite a while after Dual Core had taken hold and got the very best motherboard I could at the time. I may be lucky yet, who knows.

You remember the socket ?

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2008-09-23 04:43:30

#24

molotov<bf2>: Member; +15|6711|uk

max wrote:
You loose some energy inside the PSU itself. Pretty easy to see really, the PSU gets warm.

i understand where you are coming from, but as Varegg aluded to, all PSUs have similar heat losses, they all 'get warm'. if you are drawing 10A down a cable the resistive loss is the same as for a 500W PSU as it is for a 400W unit (assuming they both have the same conductor size).

the efficiency PSU manufacturers quote is the power factor = output (W) / input (VA).

Last edited by molotov<bf2> (2008-09-23 04:48:11)

2008-09-23 04:50:46

#25

xRBLx: I've got lovely bunch of coconuts!!; +27|6622|England - Kent

Dont worry about an over powered PSU i got a 850w one but only because I will go SLi 8800GTX one day soon...

BF2S Forums Hm, upgrades. (Little help please.)

Ty wrote:

molotov<bf2> wrote:

Ty wrote:

Jenspm wrote:

max wrote:

Ty wrote:

molotov<bf2> wrote:

san4 wrote:

Ty wrote:

Ty wrote:

san4 wrote:

Ty wrote:

max wrote:

Ty wrote:

max wrote:

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